Dr. Johnson called attention to a tract of Sir Thomas Browne entitled
“A Prophecy concerning the Future State of Several Nations,” where the
famous author “plainly discovers his expectation to be the same with
that entertained lately with more confidence by Dr. Berkeley, _that
America will be the seat of the fifth empire_.”[272] The tract is
vague, but prophetic.
Sir Thomas Browne was born 19th October, 1605, and died 19th October,
1682. His tract was published two years after his death, in a
collection of Miscellanies, edited by Dr. Tenison. As a much-admired
author, some of whose writings belong to our English classics, his
prophetic prolusions are not unworthy of notice. Among them are the
following:--
“When New England shall trouble New Spain;
When Jamaica shall be lady of the isles and the main;
When Spain shall be in America hid,
And Mexico shall prove a Madrid;
…
_When Africa shall no more sell out their blacks,_
_To make slaves and drudges to the American tracts;_
…
_When America shall cease to send out its treasure,_
_But employ it at home in American pleasure;_
_When the New World shall the Old invade,_
_Nor count them their lords, but their fellows in trade;_
…
Then think strange things are come to light,
Whereof but few have had a foresight.”[273]
Some of these words are striking, especially when we consider their
early date. In a commentary on each verse the author seeks to explain
it. New England is “that thriving colony which hath so much increased
in our days”; its people are already “industrious,” and when they have
so far increased “that the neighboring country will not contain them,
they will range still farther, and be able in time to set forth great
armies, seek for new possessions, or _make considerable and conjoined
migrations_.”[274] The verse touching Africa will be fulfilled “when
African countries shall no longer make it a common trade to sell away
their people.” And this may come to pass “whenever they shall be
well civilized, and acquainted with arts and affairs sufficient to
employ people in their countries: if also they should be converted to
Christianity, but especially unto Mahometism; for then they would never
sell those of their religion to be slaves unto Christians.”[275] The
verse concerning America is expounded thus:--
“That is, When America shall be better civilized, new policied,
and divided between great princes, it may come to pass that
they will no longer suffer their treasure of gold and silver to
be sent out to maintain the luxury of Europe and other parts;
but rather employ it to their own advantages, in great exploits
and undertakings, magnificent structures, wars, or expeditions
of their own.”[276]
The other verse, on the invasion of the Old World by the New, is
explained:--
“That is, When America shall be so well peopled, civilized, and
divided into kingdoms, _they are like to have so little regard
of their originals as to acknowledge no subjection unto them_:
they may also have a distinct commerce between themselves, or
but independently with those of Europe, and may hostilely and
piratically assault them, even as the Greek and Roman colonies
after a long time dealt with their original countries.”[277]
That these speculations should arrest the attention of Dr. Johnson is
something. They seem to have been in part fulfilled. An editor quietly
remarks, that, “to judge from the course of events since Sir Thomas
wrote, we may not unreasonably look forward to their more complete
fulfilment.”[278]